Decisions Decisions.. Hotspring/Bullfrog/Clearwater

[mzinga]

Been out and about, and tired of looking at tubs, but I think we are finally at a decision point.

Our finalists are:

Bullfrog R6@$6500
Clearwater XS84 @$6000
HotSpring Flair @$7300

I think we are leaing the Hostpring way, just want to see your more expert opinions rather than mine.  Was interesting to see the wide disparity in prices.  We had a Jacuzzi two years ago and hated the worthless clear-ray unit/chemical situation.  We sold it when we built a new house.  Was also interesting to see what some claim to be lesser tubs like a Maax/Vita line to be more expensive than something like the Flair.

Any opinions would be valuable before we take the plunge.

Thanks in advance!

[Spatech_tuo]

Have you wet tested them?

[mzinga]

Only wet tested the hot spring and loved it.  We haven't had the ability to wet test the other two.

[av8r]

Unless you wet test there isn't much to say.  They're all good brands.  The dealer is more important.  Bullfrog has a very unique and IMO more modern design/engineering.

Good luck.

[Hottubguy]

To this day I've never seen a clearwater spa.  Are they more of a regional spa company?  The other two are very good brands.  Wet test and figure out which one you like the best

[Jacuzzi Jim]

 They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle.   Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is.   I believe they are sold across the country though.

[Sam]

They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle.   Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is.   I believe they are sold across the country though.

They absolutely are struggling big time for the last 2 years or so.  They brought in an investment company that then decided to clear house and got rid of a bunch of long term employees.  The company culture was bad for awhile.  Hopefully they right the ship.  They can make pretty decent spas.

[hottubdan]

They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle.   Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is.   I believe they are sold across the country though.

They absolutely are struggling big time for the last 2 years or so.  They brought in an investment company that then decided to clear house and got rid of a bunch of long term employees.  The company culture was bad for awhile.  Hopefully they right the ship.  They can make pretty decent spas.

They sell on Costco.com as Divine.

[Sam]

They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle.   Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is.   I believe they are sold across the country though.

They absolutely are struggling big time for the last 2 years or so.  They brought in an investment company that then decided to clear house and got rid of a bunch of long term employees.  The company culture was bad for awhile.  Hopefully they right the ship.  They can make pretty decent spas.

They sell on Costco.com as Divine.

Yeah, but the divine are not the  same as their dealer line.  They are actually pretty shoddy.  The full clearwater line was pretty good but their quality control went to shit a couple of years ago.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

hmmmmmmmmmm, something like 8 different manufacturers that sold through costco have gone bankrupt over the years.

[NZArtist]

I have had constant problems with my Hotspring Grandee.
In my opinion they're way overpriced junk.
I don't even use it anymore - it's just too depressing.  I just maintain it for friends.

[Tman122]

What have the problems been? Is your dealer not taking care of the problems? Many thousands of happy HS owners have helped them build one of the, if not the best track record for reliability and longevity. I find it surprising your that unhappy. That's to bad.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

What have the problems been? Is your dealer not taking care of the problems? Many thousands of happy HS owners have helped them build one of the, if not the best track record for reliability and longevity. I find it surprising your that unhappy. That's to bad.

 Search his post, on second thought, never mind.     

[av8r]

Search his post, on second thought, never mind.     

 

[mzinga]

So should I be wary of the Clearwater?  They were setting up a wet test but in the birch bay similar tub and I told him to forget it.  Should wet test the bullfrog today.  The bullfrog seemed very cheap after we looked at the hot springs.